Territory businesses honoured at 2021 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence and Customer Service awards

Businesses from across the Territory have shone at the 2021 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence and Customer Service awards.

BUSINESSES from across the Territory have shone at the 2021 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence and Customer Service awards.

Darwin-based Admiralty House won Best Large Business ahead of Carers NT in East Arnhem.

The historic building, located on Darwin’s Esplanade, has survived World War Two, Cyclone Tracy and Covid lockdowns.

As well as popular steakhouse Char, the building hosts the Darwin Club and four distinct function spaces.

A waiter serves customers at Char Restaurant, one of four distinct function spaces hosted in the Old Admiralty House building. Picture: Nick Pincott

The business survived the pandemic in part by rebranding Char as less fine dining, more a steakhouse to broaden its appeal to a larger clientele.

Best small to medium business was won by Barkly Plumbing Services, a family run, locally-owned enterprise with a strong record in delivering on defence and Government tenders.

Alice Springs-based Lhere Artepe IGA Supermarkets won the Best Customer Experience for a large business award, the first time it has been awarded the honour.

IGA supermarkets chief executive Temba McNube said the win was a team effort.

“We’re locally based, the local community is around us, the people who work here are local and we know everyone who comes through our doors,” he said.

“We get continuous support from the Lhere Artepe Enterprises Board, and it’s a huge team effort from them, the managers and the staff.”

Best Customer Experience for a small to medium business was won by vocational course provider Star College, based in Larrakeyah, which offers vocational training courses.

Chris Vosloo from Dynamic Catering Solutions in Darwin won Best Customer Experience from an Individual.

Best Customer Experience from a not-for-profit was won by Katherine Isolated Children’s Service at Big Rivers, a remote mobile playgroup and parent information service that visits socially and geographically isolated children and families.

Best Business Collaboration was won by Bindi Enterprises in Central Australia.

Bindi Enterprises provides employment and community access for people living with disability in Alice Springs and was established by parents of people living with disability to address employment and opportunity issues.

A special commendation went to Jurnkkurakurr Volunteers in Barkly for outstanding community initiative.

Chamber chief executive Greg Ireland said the awards highlighted the quality of Territory businesses.

“We congratulate the winners of tonight’s awards who, under challenging circumstances, have displayed outstanding service, which has been appreciated by their customers,” Mr Ireland said.

“When you visit any business, and you sense a positive attitude, you know that business has developed a culture of success and these awards are in important recognition of those achievements.”

Industry welcome Gunner’s cash boost for businesses

Industry welcome Gunner’s cash boost for businesses

INDUSTRY bodies have welcomed the Chief Minister’s $5m business lifeline, and even praised the government’s rapid response.

Both Hospitality NT and the Darwin City Retailers Association have reacted well, after Michael Gunner formally announced the return of the Business Hardship Package on Friday.

Businesses will be eligible for a $3000 grant, a waiving of payroll tax and a subsidy on their utility bills under the $5m scheme.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the package was a “quick response” given the Omicron wave.

“Many of the smaller businesses don’t payroll tax, but they will get relief from the utility bills,” Mr Bruce.

“Any assistance is better than no assistance.”

Mr Bruce said he hoped the scheme would be extended if the Omicron wave continued to impact businesses beyond the current quarter.

Darwin City Retailers Association general manager Andrea Wicking welcomed the NT government’s assistance as a good first step. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

“It’s good that they’ve announced the scheme, and we want (customers) to return more quickly, but in the event they don’t, we want the scheme to continue for the duration.”

Darwin City Retailers Association general manager Andrea Wicking welcomed the assistance.

“Our members will welcome this as a first step,” Ms Wicking said.

“I don’t think $5m is going to go far, but also, it’s a good start.”

Ms Wicking said she wanted to see more pressure on landlords to drop commercial rents.

Gunner’s $5m cash stimulus for Omicron-hit businesses

RELIEF is finally on the way for struggling Territory businesses, with the NT government poised to unveil a $5m economic stimulus package on Friday.

The NT News understands Chief Minister Michael Gunner will announce the return of the Business Hardship Package in response to soaring Covid-19 infections across the Territory.

It follows weeks of pressure from industry groups for a taxpayer-funded lifeline, amid crashing turnover in hospitality venues and fears of company collapses.

Businesses which have suffered a 40 per cent hit to their revenue in December and January, compared to the same months in 2019-20, will be eligible for the scheme.

Measures to help affected businesses include having their payroll tax waived, a one-off payment of $3000 and having their utility bills discounted.

Businesses have been pleading the government to help them financially since the Omicron wave hit. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The government will reinstate the Territory Business Hardship Register, which was first deployed in March 2020, costing $5m.

The package comes in response to the Omicron wave, which has hit the hospitality and tourism sectors particularly hard. Operators have said they are seeing the lowest levels of turnover since the pandemic began.

Unlike previous outbreaks, industry groups have warned a serious lack of federal and territory government support could see employees laid off and businesses close for good.

Mr Gunner’s announcement will likely be met with mixed responses, with many industry groups having called for government support for weeks.

Attending a rally of businesses on Wednesday, Opposition Small Business spokeswoman Marie-Clare Boothby described the current situation facing Territory businesses as “tougher than at any time during this pandemic”.

“Territory businesses have been crippled by Covid and every day that support is withheld is a day closer to that business shutting its doors for good.”

Friday’s announcement will likely be apprehensively welcomed by restaurants, cafes and bars.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce on Sunday called for the government to bring back economic assistance.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said many businesses were seeing downturns of 50 to 90 per cent. Picture: Che Chorley

“Since New Year’s Eve many hospitality venues, from small family-run coffee shops through to larger establishments, are now 50-90 per cent down if they open at all,” Mr Bruce said.

“Many of the late night traders are not.”

Among those who took their concerns directly to the Chief Minister was Watertank Cafe owner Nicole Jervis, who wrote a letter describing the situation as “dire”.

Ms Jervis urged Mr Gunner to do more to avoid job losses.

This is the first severe outbreak of Covid-19 Australia has faced without significant federal government support, such as Jobkeeper.

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Originally published as Territory businesses honoured at 2021 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence and Customer Service awards